The Grenada gazette., 1887-09-24
LIFE IN BUENOS AYRES.
Social Condition and Commercial Impor-
tancs of the Argentine Republic.

Social Condition and Commercial Impor-
tsncs of the Argentine Republic.
There is no "middle class" in the
Argentine Republic. Society is conn
posed Of those wealthy enough to re-
frain from manual labor and work.
ing people. Wages as . rule are low.
and the cost Of living as high as in the
United States, and not half as good.
In the camps poems engaged in
herding are paid from 80 to >l2 per
month and supplied with meat and
matte. Should they wish to vary this
diet it must be done at their own ex-
pense. Few care to do so. Nattc is q
peculiar herb grown in Paraguay, and
is'thc national beverage of the coun-
try. 1t is dried, powdered and stepped
in hot water and used as tea. 1t
possesses considerable stimulating
powers. and enormous quantities are
consumed. All classes use it. A
gourd is followed and filed with
matte. tube to suck through inserted
and the contents absorbed. 1t is con-
sidered serious breach of etiquette
to refuse the matte cup when it is
passed around. The same tube passes
from mouth to mouth!
Skilled labor does not command high
wages. Locomotive drivers receive
from $50 to $75 month; guards or
conductors, $45; good mechanics aver
age 81. so day. When the value Of
Argentine money is reckoned, these
are low wages. A constant specula.
ton in gold is carried on. and the
value of national money constantly
fluctuates.
Certain professions are we'll paid.
Dentists, photographers, civil en-
gineers and school-tcachcrs find occu-
patton and make money. A laboring
man entering the Republic finds him
solf thrown into competition with the
hungry hordes Of the old world, and
must accustom himself to strict econ
omy and hard living to get along. The
Italians employed on the streets or in
public works are paid sl.25 a, day.
This is the rate for ordinary labor.
Stevedores and men around the docks
not steadily employed. $l.50 and board;
clerks from $50 to $40 per month. A
knowledge of Spanish is absolutely re-
quired of the latter.
Tho country maintains q standing
army Of $4,000 men and has a good
navy, comprising several powerful
armored ships. Military distinction is
eagerly sought and the sons of rich
families enter the service. Il is not
unusual to see boys of fourteen and
fifteen years wearing officers uniforms.
English, Germans and French arc
found among the officers. Tho total
population of the country is estimated
at 10, 900. 900.
House rent is excessively high and
city property held atoxorbitant figures.
The same may be said of outlying
lands. Compared with prices few
years ago. their valuation is excessive,
and crash is inevitable. Camp lands
for grazing purposes in remote dis.
tricts sell from $40, 900 to 9l5. 900 pei
square league. This country is gen.
orally level from tho coast line back to
the Andes. The average rise in alti-
tude is four inches to the mile. This
is the region Of the pampas, vast tree.
loss plains, covered with grasses and
comprising rich soils.
Twenty-Five foreign steamship lines
touch tho Buenos Ayres. and thou
sands of immigrants are landedyearly.
Fast and well-equippcd river boats
navigate the Uruguay, Parana and
Plato rivers. Cor. San Francisco